Pictures: Travel to a Michigan prison

Travel to a Michigan prison

Mike Brookbank, Detroit Free Press, MCT

Although it is now a resident/artist community, the original metal bars remain on the windows at the old Jackson State Prison. Tours of the facility, which opened in 1842, are available. The tours include a visit to Block 7, which closed in 2007, on the grounds of the current prison.

Although it is now a resident/artist community, the original metal bars remain on the windows at the old Jackson State Prison. Tours of the facility, which opened in 1842, are available. The tours include a visit to Block 7, which closed in 2007, on the grounds of the current prison. (Mike Brookbank, Detroit Free Press, MCT)

An artist's studio is seen inside the historic state prison in Jackson, Michigan. The room would have been about two cells inside the facility when it opened in 1842. Tours are available of the original prison and Block 7 on the grounds of the current prison in Jackson.

An artist's studio is seen inside the historic state prison in Jackson, Michigan. The room would have been about two cells inside the facility when it opened in 1842. Tours are available of the original prison and Block 7 on the grounds of the current prison in Jackson. (Mike Brookbank, Detroit Free Press, MCT)